William Cartwright

Location based services and telecartography

From the Contents: General Aspects of LBS and TeleCartography.- Positioning.- Modelling and Awareness.- Visualisation and Cortographic Communication.- Applications.

Geospatial Information Visualization User Interface Issues

User interfaces for geospatial information are the tools by which users interact with and explore that information. The provision of appropriate interface tools for exploiting the potential of contemporary geospatial visualization products is essential if they are to be used efficiently and effectively. This paper addresses issues and challenges in interface development and usage that are identified as paramount within the geospatial visualization community.

Mapping Literature: Towards a Geography of Fiction

Modern cartography has the ability to map almost any phenomenon for which spatial relationships are of primary relevance. While existing cartographic products cover already an enormous variety of topics, the visualisation of ‘other’ geographies gains more and more attention. These other geographies may not accord to the ‘normal’ spaces usually mapped, hence cartography is both challenged and forced to find uncommon solutions. Literature and its fictional spaces might serve as a fi ne example (but one could also think of soundscapes or emotions). Doubtlessly, the realm of fiction is defined by different ‘rules’ to the geography that cartography customarily addresses. This paper deals with two main questions: Firstly, how to map narratives and their complex spatial structure? Secondly, what do we achieve by mapping literature? By searching for some (provisional) answers, the horizon of a promising interdisciplinary research field – a future literary geography – becomes visible.

Narrative Cartography: From Mapping Stories to the Narrative of Maps and Mapping

Abstract This paper provides an overview of the multiple ways of envisioning the relationships between maps and narratives. This is approached from a map making perspective. Throughout the process of editing this special issue, we have identified two main types of relationships. Firstly, maps have been used to represent the spatio-temporal structures of stories and their relationships with places. Oral, written and audio-visual stories have been mapped extensively. They raise some common cartographic challenges, such as improving the spatial expression of time, emotions, ambiguity, connotation, as well as the mixing of personal and global scales, real and fictional places, dream and reality, joy and pain. Secondly, the potential of maps as narratives and the importance of connecting the map with the complete mapping process through narratives is addressed. Although the potential of maps to tell stories has already been widely acknowledged, we emphasize the increasing recognition of the importance of developing narratives that critically describe the cartographic process and context in which maps unfold - the core idea of post-representational cartography. Telling the story about how maps are created and how they come to life in a broad social context and in the hands of their users has become a new challenge for mapmakers.

New media and their application to the production of map products

Abstract The use of animations, multimedia, and computer graphics is now commonplace in the spatial sciences. Usually users are required only to have access to sophisticated and powerful computer equipment and peripherals to use effectively such contemporary offerings. The range of electronic displays used for spatial information visualization can be enlarged through the application of other available devices, from domestic televisions to Internet services, making it possible to access spatial information in ways and with equipment that is familiar. However, many users may be unable to comprehend the real information being displayed with these new tools due to a lack of “ground truthing”. “Ground truthing” in this context refers to additional data and information that ensure that the user, especially the novice, appreciates that depicted phenomena are real and do occur at some actual location and at some point of time. “Ground truthing” of the depiction of spatial information may be achieved by linking electronic map displays to “real” locations through the use of the Internet and the World Wide Web. This paper gives an overview of the various types of products that could be developed for the delivery of spatial information in a different manner that complements the methods now in popular use and proposes the use of projects on CD-ROM and the World Wide Web that could be linked to mapping displays to provide “electronic ground truthing”.

Three-Dimension Indoor Positioning Algorithms Using an Integrated RFID/INS System in Multi-storey Buildings

Location based services (LBS) require a reliable, accurate and continuous position determination of mobile users. This is particularly true in indoor environments where the widely used Global Positioning System ( GPS) is not available due to its signal outages. One solution is to integrate different techniques in a multi-sensor positioning system to overcome the limitations of a single sensor. In this chapter an approach is described using a three-dimensional Radio Frequency Identifi cation (3D RFID) location fi ngerprinting probabilistic approach with map-based constraints in order to provide reliable positions in indoor 3D environments. An Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) is used to integrate 3D RFID positioning method with an Inertial Navigation System (INS) in order to produce an accurate and continuous positioning estimation.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Non-Realistic 3D Maps for Navigation with Mobile Devices

Small mobile computer platforms are being employed to deliver maps and map-related objects to users, ‘at location’, on-demand and almost instantaneously. The products delivered are mainly conventional in design, sometimes only mimicking their paper counterparts. However, a number of applications have introduced innovative presentations as both 2D and 3D images. The delivery of 3D images on these devices, particularly as realistic impressions has been the focus of recent research to evaluate the effectiveness of such images for navigation

Geographical visualization: Past, present and future development

Geographical Visualization has formalised the use of New Media and digital technologies for depicting geography. Powerful and innovative tools enable users to explore geographical information and to appreciate both ‘broadbrush’ geographical concepts and discrete and associated geographical phenomena. Since the late 1980s interest has grown in developing geographical visualization tools to assist in personal and collaborative use of the myriad of data sets available about things geographical. This has resulted in the conceptualisation of different theoretical approaches to what we do, and new ways for viewing and using geographical information. This paper provides an overview of geographical visualization and how it has, is and can be used. It also addresses the need for geographical visualization producers to embrace a closer collaboration with the GIScience community so as to provide tools that are based on the strong analytical applications of GIS packages. And, it highlights the need for applying the techniques of user‐centered design to ensure that usable geospatial products are created and delivered.

Interactive Local Terrain Deformation Inspired by Hand-painted Panoramas

Abstract Painters of panoramic landscape maps use specific manual techniques to solve problems of occlusion, foreshortening and unfavourable orientation of landscape elements to the map viewer. Using digital means, the painters’ techniques may be translated into geometry deformation algorithms for digital panorama creation. This article explores the advantages and the suitability of applying local geometry deformation to digital panoramas and reviews existing methods to perform such terrain editing with digital means. A new algorithmic solution based on inverse distance interpolation and moving least squares and specifically designed for regular 2·5D elevation models is presented. It allows the user to position and drag control handles on a 3D representation of the model to interactively deform the terrain.

Using On-Line Geographical Visualisation Tools to Improve Land Use Decision-Making with a Bottom-Up Community Participatory Approach

This paper examines the development of a prototype suite of on-line integrated multimedia-GIS tools to assist in bottom up decision-making. These tools are being developed in the context of scenario planning to enable the community to actively explore different land use options and the implication of government structure and strategic plans. A case study approach is undertaken, focusing on the Jewell Station Neighbourhood, situated in the City of Moreland, Greater Melbourne Region, Australia. The paper documents the first stage of the project, in developing three land use scenarios delivered through a range of technologies including: VRML, HTML, GIS, Pixmaker and Flash. The paper concludes by outlining the future directions of this research that include: the construction of a virtual sandbox, usability testing, and community consultation.